How to Take Wrinkles Out of Polyester With Steam

by Mimi Abney

Polyester is a durable, man-made fabric used to create trendy and stylish apparel and fashionable home decor items. When you discover a few wrinkles in your favorite polyester pieces, you do not have to send them to the dry cleaner for an expensive laundering or pressing treatment. In fact, an at-home steaming treatment is a gentle method to get rid of wrinkles without harming or scorching the polyester fibers. Using hot water, expert fabric-care tips and a steady hand, you can release the unsightly wrinkles safely and easily.

Steam Clothing By Ironing

Set the iron on a low-temperature and steam setting. Add water to the iron’s internal reservoir. Wait for the iron to release steam before pressing the garment.

Hold the iron two to three inches above the wardrobe item. Move the iron quickly, using an up-and-down motion across the fabric, to release the wrinkles.

Let the garment cool for five minutes on a padded hanger or on the ironing board. If you touch the garment while it is warm you may reintroduce the wrinkles into the fabric.

Steam Drapes and Home Furnishing Items

Turn on your handheld steamer. Add water to the device. Place the steamer on the lowest steam setting.

Sweep the steamer across the polyester items to remove the wrinkles. To get rid of stubborn creases in the fabric, touch the head of the steamer lightly against the fabric for two seconds or less.

Hang your lightweight draperies and table runners on a hanger. Run hot water in the bathroom shower to create steam for a few minutes. Place the home decor items near the shower for 20 minutes or less to relax the creases in the fabric.

Items you will need

Iron

Ironing board

Handheld steamer

Padded hanger

Spray bottle

Tip

For deep creases in your dresses, pants or suits that do not respond to steaming, spray the item first with water from a spray bottle. Press the clothing with an iron on a low setting to remove the wrinkles.

Warning

If you cannot release the wrinkles with steam, take the polyester item to the dry cleaner for a professional pressing treatment.

Resources

About the Author

Mimi Abney is a lifestyle writer specializing in online content for women. Her work has appeared in NewsOK.com and "Keepsake Magazine," among other publications. With over 15 years of writing and editing experience for the web and print, Abney is also a contributor to online health, beauty and fashion publications. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Spelman College.